“The simplest way to make sure that we raise literate children is to teach them to read, and to show them that reading is a pleasurable activity.” – Neil Gaiman, Author
Growing up as the daughter of an elementary school teacher—reading was a big deal. Not only was I required to do my own schoolwork; I had a desk in the basement and was given extra work at home! Each Summer, I was assigned a specific number of books to read. During the school year I worked for free at school. I helped grade papers—LOVED that red wax pen! For my adoptive mother, who was born right before the Depression and lived through the Civil Rights Movement—education was the way out for us Negro/Colored/Black/Afro-African-Americans. She lived through all those iterations, and was the first in our family to graduate from college. She also worked as a city accountant. (STEM)
My mother would break through any barrier to improve the literacy of her children. She personally tutored them, made sure they had food and clothing if it was lacking, and would intervene in hard home situations. For her, nothing was better than an educated, literate, mathematically sound, and well-spoken child or adult. To be LITERATE means to be able to read and write. It also means having or showing education or knowledge, typically in a specified area. Our church working with the Wesley Chapel Mission’s Family Reading program reminds me of literacy’s importance.
In the late 1960’s Margaret McNamara started the non-profit RIF – Reading Is Fundamental. That was both the name and the slogan of the organization. Fundamental means of central importance; forming the necessary core, essential nature, or crucial point. They believed for a child or adult to not just survive, but thrive in our society, they had to be literate. Someone once said, “If you want to hide something important from people…put it in a book!” Illiteracy is not just present in our school systems…it’s all over the Country. A 2021 Gallup poll said that Americans read “all or part of” 12.6 books per year. 17% read no books, 40% read 1-5. When was the last time you read an entire book? In a Minister’s Class at The Warehouse, we lamented over the Biblical Illiteracy of many parishioners and leaders. The mysteries of God are, like it or not, found in a book. Paul said,
“Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.” (2 Corinthians 2:15 AMP)
It’s hard to accurately handle and skillfully teach what you do not know…and there’s so much wisdom and value in the Word of God if we value it! Job said, “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.“ (Job 23:12) We wondered aloud if the fact that we don’t turn pages anymore, but click on apps and google search, has diminished our love, reverence, respect, study, and application of God’s Word. Back in the day we had to read and memorize passages. I believe if you’re serious about study, you’ll seek out the Word in any form. We also considered the possibility of a world where Bibles are burned or Bible apps are banished…we’d have to use our own recall. Would we have enough inside us to live for Jesus? David wrote, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 10I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:9-11) Where is your Biblical literacy today? Mine can improve.
